One-eighth



Aug. 28, 1.923. 1.466.321

J. VYHITCQMB GAS ENGINE FOR AIRPLANES Filed April 18. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jmeamm Aug. 28, 1923.

J. WHITCOMB GAS ENGINE FOR AIRPLANES Filed April 18, 1922 4 Sheets$heat 2 Aug. 28, 1923. 1,466.32]

' J. WHITCOMB GAS ENGINE FOR AIRPLANES Filed April 18, 1922 4 Shoots-Sheet 5 &

Aug. 28, 1923.

- 1,466,321 J. WHITCOMB (ms ENGINE FOR AIRPLANES Filed April 18, 1922 4 s uts-sheet 4 mxm Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WHITCQMB, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTEENTH TO HARLEY ANDREW HUDSON, ONE-SIXTEEN'IH TO RALPH MILO-HUDSON, ONE- SIXTEENTH TO JAMES H. HUGHES, ONE-SIXTEENTH TO OSCAR W. HART, AND ONE-SIXTEENTH TO HARRY C. BRYNER, ALL OF KE'WANEE, ILLINOIS; ONE-EIGHTH TO TED UPTON, OF ANACONDA, MONTANA; AND ONE-SIXTEENTH TO HERMAN H. BOBENHOUSE, AND' TWO-EIGH'IHS TO VICTOR A. QUADAR, BOTH OF DENVER,

COLORADO.

GAS ENGINE FOR AIRPLANES.

Application filed April 18, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, (Teams \VHrrooMIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Engines for Airplanes, 01" which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the double acting radial cylinder type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of intake manifold for supplying the combustible charge to the cylinders.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel valve operating means embodying readily accessible cams and push rods.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course 01 the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown one 6111- bodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the engine.

Figure is. a detail sectional view through the inner end of one of the cylinders and the elements associated therewith,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure l is a section taken on line TF4; of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 1, and,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the valve rocker arms and associated elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates an outer arcuate support having horizontal base portions 11 at its opposite ends and preferably integral therewith. The support 10 is provided with a series of circular openings 12 adapted to receive the outer ends oi explosion cylinders 13. The cylinders 13 are provided near their outer ends with shoulders or collars 14:, preferably integral therewith and adapted to bear against the inner face of the support 10. The outer Serial No. 554,686.

ends of the cylinders 13 are closed by sealing heads 15 having flanges 16 extending outwardly beyond the cylinders 13 for a purpose to be described. The sealing heads 15 are further provided with tubular extensions 17 extending outwardly therefrom in the outer ends of which are mounted spark plugs 18 of any well known or preferrect type.

The numeral 19 designates an inner substantially arcuate support, the ends of which are secured as by bolts 20 to the base portions 11. oi? the outer support. As clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the inner support 19 contacts with the inner open ends of the cylinders 13 to form inner heads therefor. Bolts 21 are employed to securely clamp the cylinders to the outer heads 15 and the inner support 19, these bolts passing through the collars 14k and the outer support 10, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The support 19 is provided axially of each cylinder with an inwardly extending sleeve provided upon their inner ends with shoulders 23 for a purpose to be described. The support 19 is further provided adjacent each sleeve 22 with an angular tubular extension 24, comumnicating with the inner end of the cylinder, in the outer ends of which are mounted the usual spark plugs 25.

The numeral 26 designates an outer casing or cover having an areuate outer wall 27 and side walls 28. As shown in Figure 5, the casing 26 is substantially narrower than the support 10 and is secured thereto by bolts 29 passing through flanges 30 on the side walls 28 and through the support 10. The using 96 is also secured to the base portions 11 ot the outer support 10 by bolts 31 as shown in Figures 3 and l. The casing 26 is provided with. relatively large openings in axial alinement with the cylinders 13, and these openings are normally closed by hand plates secured to the casing 26 by bolts 3 L The plates 33 are provided with openings 35 adapted to snugly receive the outer ends of the tubular extensions 17. From an examination of Figure 3 it will be apparent that the spark plugs 18 for the outer ends of the cylinders are readily accessible and that the outer cylinder heads 15 are readily accessible upon removal of the plates 33.

Each of the cylinders 13 is provided with a piston 36 mounted to reciprocate therein and provided with inwardly and radially extending piston rods 37, mounted within the sleeves22. The piston rods 37 are provided within the sleeves 22 with enlargements 38 havingcompression rings there on to prevent leakage of gases from the in nor ends of the cylinders. The inner ends of the piston rods 37 are provided with heads 40 to which are pivotally connected connecting rods 41 by wrist pins 41-2, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The numeral 48 disignates an inner casing which is substantially arcuate in term and is provided with. openings 41st adapted to slip over the ends of the sleeves 22 and to bear against the shoulders 23 there-on. The casing 43 is adapted to snugly engage the inner ends of the sleeves 22 to prevent leakage of therebetween. The numeral 44 designates a crank case which extends entirely across the lower portion. of the engine between the opposite sides of the support 19 and the lower ends of the casing 4L3 contact with the upper face oi this crank case as at 45; see Figure 3. The open ends of the en gine within the support 19 are closed by end plates 4'6 which are secured at their outer edges to flanges -17 formed upon the inner support 19 by bolts 48. The lower ends of theeiid plates 46 are secured, at 4:9, to flanges 50 formed upon the ends of the crank case a l. The ends of the inner casing are secured to theend plates 1-6 as at Thus it will be seen that the space 52 formed between the inner support 19 and the inner casing a3 is entirely closed.

The numeral 53 designates a crank shatt having a single elongated crank 54: substantially centrally thereof to which are connected the inner ends of the connecting rods 41, in the usual manner. It will be obvious that the cylinders 13 are arranged in. stepped formation to permit the connection of the inner ends 01": the connecting rods to the crank on the crank shaft. The crank shaft 53 is journaled in bearings 55 carried by the crank case it as shown in Figure As clearly shown in Figure 5, the outer ends of the cylinders are provided with exhaust ports 56 communicating with exhaust passages 57 through valve openings 58. The valve openings 58 are provided with exhaust valves 59 of the usual type provided with valve stems 60 extending dmvnwardly through bearings (31 formed in the lower portion of the exhaust passages 57 and through openings '62 formed in the inner supports 19. The lower ends of the exhaust valve stems are provided with heads 63 and springs 6 lare mounted between these heads are provided with exhaust ports (55 normally closed by exhaust valves 66.

The exhaust \Vll'll inwari' y ex valves are provided tending valve stems 6? having heads formed upon the lower ends. .ZlS shown in Figure 5, the exhaust ports 65 con'in'iunicate with exl'iaust passages (39. Springs are mounted between the heads 68 and the lower ends of the exhaust passages (35) to normally maintain the valves in closed position The exhaust passages 57 are provided with. exha'ust pipes 71 extending outwardly through the side walls (iii the order casing The exhaust passages 09 are provided with out wardly extending exhaust pipes 7: 3 which pass outwardly through the side plate 46. The exhaust pipes ll and T2 are connected with any well known or preferred type of inutller (not shown).

The outer ends oi? the cylinders are provided with intake ports 73 coininunicating with intake passages 74: provided with valve seats 75 which are normally closed by intake valves 76. Radial intake pipes 77 are provided communicating between the intake passages 74 and the space 52. Tim valves 76 are provided with inwardly and radially extending valve stems 78 nfeiferahly arranged centrally within the pipes 77 and journaled in spiders 79 carried in the lower ends of these pipes. The lower ends ot the stems T8 are provided with heads 80 and springs 81 are mounted between the heads 80 and the spiders it) to normally maintain the valves 76 in closedv position. The inner ends'ot the cylinders are provided with. intake ports 82 in which are mounted intake valves 83 provided with inwardly and radially extending valve stems S-l jeurnaled in brackets 85 secured to the sleeves 22. The lower ends of the stems 84: are provided with heads 86 and springs 87 are mounted. between the heads 80 and the brackets-s 85 to normally maintain the valves 83 in closet position. As clearly shown in Figure 5 the ports 82 ail-0rd communication between the space 52 and the inner ends at. the cylinders l3.

Plates 88 are mounted against the outer faces of the bearings 55 and are secured thereto by screws 89. The upper ends oi? the plates 88 are secured to the inner casing 4:3 by screws 90.

As shown in Figure 5, the plates SS are mounted substantially parallel to and in spaced relation to the end plates d6.

Cam wheels 91 are rotatably mounted upon the shafts between the plates and 88. The shaft is provided with gears 92 secured thereto and adapted to mesh with gears 93 mounted upon stub shafts 9i journalcd in' bearings 95 in the end plates 46.

The gears 93 mesh with internal gears 96 formed within the cam wheels 91. The gears 96 have twice as many teeth as the gears 92 so that they rotate at one-half the speed of the crank shaft 53.

The plates 88 are provided with bearings 97 which slidably receive push rods 98. The push rods 98 are provided at their lower ends with rollers 99 adapted to contact with and roll upon suitable cams 100 formed upon the cam wheels 91. Upon the intake side 01 the engine, the push rods 98 are arranged in pairs and correspond in arrangement with the cylinders, one pair of push rods being provided for each cylinder. The inner push rod 98 of each pair upon the intake side of the engine is adapted to contact at its upper end with an arm 101 secured to a rock shaft 102, the inner end of which is provided with a second arm 103 which contacts with one of the heads 86. The outer push rod of each pair upon the intake side of the engine contacts at its upper end with an arm 101 secured to a rock shaft 105, the inner end of which is pro *ided with a second arm 106 which in turn contacts with one of the heads 80. The rock sha'l'ts 102 and are journaled in bearings 107 carried by the inner face of the support 19. It will be obvious that when one of the push rods 98 is raised by its corresponding cam, it in turn rocks its corresponding rock shaft to open one of the intake valves of one of the cylin ders.

The arrangement of push rods 98 upon the exhaust side of the engine is similar to the arrangement of the push rods 98 upon the intake side of the engine as previously described. The outer push rod 98 of each pair upon the exhaust side of the engine is adapted to contact at its upper end with an arm 108 secured to a rock shaft 109, the inner end of which is provided with a second arm 110 which contacts with one of the heads 63. Similarly the inner push rod 98 of each pair upon the exhaust side of the engine is adapted to contact at its upper end with an arm 111 secured to a rock shaft- 112 which is provided upon its inner end with a second arm 113 which in turn contacts with one of the heads 08. The operation of the exhaust push rods 98 is the same as the operation previously described for the intake push rods 98 and no further description thereof is believed to be necessary. The positions of the various cams 100 are arranged to open the various valves of the engine at proper intervals according to the practice in {our cycle engines.

Detailed description of the operation of the present invention is believed to be unnecessary. Attention is called however to the arrangement by which the combustible fluid is supplied to the various cylinders of the engine. Upon the intake side of the engine an intake pipe 11 1 is provided which is connected with a suitable carburetor, not shown. The combustible fluid passes inwardly through the pipe 11 1 to the space 522 which is supplied at all times with an ample supply of the combustibl lluid. When the valves 83 are opened, outward movement of the pistons 36 draws a charge into the inner end of the cylinder directly from the space lVhen the valves 76 open inward movement of the pistons draws the combustible charge into the outer end of the cylinders through the intake pipes 77 from the space 52. Thus it will be seen that the space 52 serves as an intake manifold for each end of all the cylinders and it will be further seen that the exhaust passages 69 serve to maintain the combustible charge within the space 52 in a heated condition at all tin'ics. lVhen the exploded charge in the outer ends oi. the cylinders has completed its work, the exhaust valves 59 open permitting the discharge of the burned gases through the exhaust passages 57 and exhaust pipes 71. Similarly when the exploded charges within the inner ends of the cylinders have completed their work, the exhaust valves 66 open, permitting the escape of the burned gases through the exhaust passages 69 and exhaust pipes 72.

It will be obvious that the spark plugs for the outer ends 01 the cylinders are readily accessible while those for the inner ends of the cylinders may be removed for cleaning or replacing by removing the end plates 16. The provision of tubular extensions 24 and 17 removes the firing points of the spark plugs from contact with oil within the cyl inders and serves to more efficiently ignite the charges within the cylinders.

It is to be understood that the form oi my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape. size, and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a casing having one wall adapted to form a support for and a closure for one end of each 01? said cylinders, means for supplying combustible fluid to the interior of said casing, valve mechanism for admitting the combustible fluid into the ends of the cylinders through said casing at proper intervals, a piston mounted in each of said cylinders, a piston rod connected to each of said pistons and extending through said casing, a crank shaft, a connecting rod connecting the crank shaft with each of said piston rods, means for firing the combustible charges within the cylinders, and means for exhaustr gases from the cylinders atproper 2. An internal combustion en )l'iSl1l," a plurality (t cylinders,

pport provided with openings aria 'eive the outer ends of said cylinders,

adapted to close the outer or having one we closure :tor

cylinders through said casino at proper itervals, a. piston mounted in each of said cylinders, a piston rod connected to each of id pistons and extending' through said c "ank shaft, a connecting rod con uccting the crank shaft with each oi said 'JlSiJOH rods, means "for lirin the combustible iarges within the cylii'ide s, and i'neansii for enhaustingr burned from the cylinders at proper intervals.

5?. An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality 0'? cylinders, an arcuate support provided with openings adaptei'l to receive the outer ends oil? said cylind rs, cylinder heads adapted. to close the outer ends oi said cylinders, a casing; havingone rail adapted to form a support and a closure tor one end of each of said cylinders, ncans for supplying combustible fluid to the inte 'ior oi? said casing, an intake valve mounted in each end of each of said cylinders and comuiunicating with the interior o't said casing, "alye operating niechanisn'i for opening;- said intake valves at proper intervals, a piston mounted in each of said cylii'iders. a piston rod connected to och of said pistons and extending through said casing, a crank shatt embodying a single crank, 21 conncc 1g rod connecting the single crank oi the crank shatt with, each of said piston rods, inc-ans :lor iiringthe combustible charges within the cylinders, and means t'or e hausting: burned from the cylinders at" proper intervals.

An internal coinlnuition, engine coinprisiug an outer arcuate support iuciudino base portions, an inner arcuate sui'r iort spaced from said outer support and secured to the base portions theroot, a plurality o'l cylinders radially mounted hetween said suppmts, said inner support forming the inner heads of said cylinders, a head mounted upon the outer end oi each cylinder, a tubular extension formed on each of said heads and communicating with the outer ends of said cylinders, a tuluilar tension. ,arricd by said inner support ad: jaccut each cylinder and con'in'iunieating with the inner ends thereof, spar: plug: mounted in each of said tubular extensions, an arcuate plate connected at its lower ends to said inner support, the space between said. plate and said inner support being closed by i e valves mounted in oppoc l sale cy iders and connnunicatin with suit manifold, a piston mounted in each of said cylinder, a piston rod carried by each of said pistons and extending; inwardly through said manifold, a crank shaft, connecting;- rods connected between said piston rods and said crank shaft, exhaust valies for controlling the exhaus gases from opposite ends of each of said cylinde s, and valve inechanisi'u for operatin u' said intake and exhaust valves.

T. An internal combustion engine couiprising an outer arcuata support including; bare portions, said support being provided with openings, an inner arcuate support spaced from said outer support and secured to the base portions thercot, aplurality of qvlindors radially mounted between said supports, and having their outer ends pro jectinp; through the openings in said outer support, said inner support harming the in ner heads oi said cylinders, a head mounted upon the outer end of each cylinder, atir bular extension formed on each oi: said heads and coinnuinieating with the outer ends of said cylinders, a tubular extension c: rried by said inn support adjzujrent each cylinder and coininunicatine with the inner inds thereo'if', a spark plug mounted in each of s; id tubular cxtensiol s, a sleeve carric'id by said inner support axially oi each cylinder and extending inwardly thereof, an arcuate plate connected. between the inner ends of said sleeves, the space between said plateand said inner support being closed by side and bottom members to form an intake manifold, the inner ends oi": said cylinders being: provided with intake ports communicating directly between said intake manifold and inner ends of said cylinders, the outer ends of said cylinders being provided with an intake port, an intake pipe coinmui'iicating between each of said outer intake ports and said intake manifold, intake uilyes adapted to no anally close each of said intake ports, a piston mounted in each of id cylinders, a piston rod carried by each on? said pistons and extending inwardly throu 51h said sleeves, a crank shaft, connccting'rods connected be tween said piston rods and said crank shalt, exhaust valves tor controlling the exhaust gases from, opposite ends of each oi? said cylinders, and valve mechanism for operating said intake and exhaust valves.

(3. an internal combustion engine compris i'ug'an outer arcuate support including base portions, said support being provided with openings, an inner arcuate support spaced from said outer support and secured to the base portions thereof, a pluiality of cylindcrs radially mounted between said supports, the outer ends of said cylinders projecting through the openings in said outer support, said inner support forming the inner heads of said cylinders, a head mounted upon the outer end of each cylinder, a tubular extension formed on each of said heads and communicating with the outer ends of said cylinders, a tubular extension carried by said inner supportadjacent each cylinder and communicating with the inner ends thereof, a spark plug mounted in each of said tubular extensions, a sleeve carried by said inner support axially of each cylinder and extending inwari'lly thereof, an arcuate plate connected between the inner ends 01 said sleeves, the space between said plate and said inner support being closed by side and bottom members to form an intake maniitold, each of said cylinders being provided in its inner end with an intake port coniinunicating with said intake manifold, each of said cylinders being provided in its outer end with an intake port, an intake pipe cominunicating between each of said outer intake ports and said intake manifold, intake valves adapted to normally close each of the said intake ports, a piston mounted in each of said cylinders, a piston rod carried by each of said pistons and extending inwardly through said sleeves, a crank shatt emhodying a single crank, bearings for said crank shalt arranged on opposite sides of said crank, connecting rods connected between said piston rods and the crank on said shaft, exhaust valves for controlling the 0X- haust gases from opposite ends of each of said cylinders, cam wheels embodying cams mounted upon said crank shaft outwardly of said hearings, and means connected be tween said cam wheels and said valves for opening the valves at proper intervals.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence oi two witnesses. 7

JAMES XVHITCOMB.

Witnesses HENRY NnLsoN, THOMAS ImnNnY, Jr. 

